|
|
 |
|
Click Image to View Larger
Tinikling: Traditional Philippine Bamboo Dance
Miriam Factora, Ph.D.
Item #:
MF-7
Price:
$3.00
Tinikling is an exuberant traditional dance from the
Philippines that beautifully showcases the nation’s rich
cultural heritage. It is known to be one of the oldest
traditional dances that originated from the Visayan region of
the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Samar and
Leyte. The performance typically involves two dancers who
expertly navigate between bamboo poles laid on the floor.
These poles are rhythmically clapped together by two other
participants positioned at their ends. Dancers often perform
barefoot in colorful traditional attire, stepping in and out
of these clapping bamboo poles with precision and grace—an
impressive display of agility and coordination. This dance
mirrors how long-legged Tikling birds cleverly avoid bamboo
traps set by farmers in rice fields to protect their crops
from these intruders.
Dr. Miriam Factora writes,
"I discovered this song during my fieldwork research in the
Philippines in the late 1990s. Originating from the Waray-
speaking communities of Samar and Leyte provinces, this unique
melody has been translated into Filipino, the national
language. Interestingly, it offers a variation to a more
widely performed tune typically played by a rondalla—a string
ensemble introduced by Spain during its colonization of the
Philippines.
Tinikling, typically performed at a faster pace by more
experienced dancers who often speed up the tempo towards the
end, needs considerable technical skill. Nevertheless,
inspired to make this accessible for my elementary students,
I’ve crafted a version with a more manageable tempo and
simplified dance steps. The choral arrangement is also simple
and straightforward with a descant included to enhance the
harmony. It is crafted for less experienced singers for them
to find greater enjoyment in their singing and dancing this
challenging dance. I took the liberty of using the piano as an
accompaniment with the option of also incorporating a guitar.
A recording of the song sung by a young talented Filipino
singer, Ma. Victoria V. Valdez, provides non-Filipino speakers
the opportunity to have a more authentic experience of the
song and gain a better insight on the pronunciation of the
words. I am also offering an instrumental recording without
vocals for students to use while learning the dance or to use
as an accompaniment in the absence of an accompanist."
Dancing the Tinikling goes beyond showcasing creativity and
community unity. It also honors the rich and enduring
traditions that have been cherished across generations.
|
|
|
|
)